Yo yo yo. I'm over at my brother's house trying to help him set up his laptop. We're wired at the moment, but his ISP (Cox.net) is telling him his computer is the issue, while the brand new computer is saying there is something wrong with the connection. I know this is an easy fix for someone on the board. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Laptop:
Toshiba Tecra
Intel T2400 @ 1.83GHz
248MB RAM
running XP Pro (2002), SvcPak 2

Router/Gateway:
Linksys WRT54G

Network Adapters:
1394 Net Adapter (showed disabled when I got here, re-enabled w/ no change)
Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection

ISP installed application called "InstaLAN." InstaLAN brings up diagram showing connectivity issue between computer and gateway (Linksys WCG200v2). Advises click on red x to troubleshoot. Upon clicking, reports "Home wireless network not found." Router/Gateway (WRT54G on unit) lights for power, WLAN, and internet. Also one light for port where hard line is running to the notebook while I post this.

In the Network Connections window, the 3945ABG shows "Not connected, Firewalled." (It's the XP firewall, which was not turned on when I got here, but is on now.) Double clicking this item gets the following message which I wish could be copied and pasted, due to my not liking typing on laptop keyboards...

"Windows can not configure this wireless connection.

If you have enabled another program to manage this wireless connection, use that software.

If you want Windows to configure this wireless connection, start the Wireless Zero Configuration (WCZ) service. For information about starting the WCZ service, see article 871122 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base on the Microsoft.com Web site."

This laptop came with what appears to be a decent tool called ConfigFree(Connectivity Doctor). I ran it and it shows the issue being between the notebook and the gateway.

Possible Cause:
"Can not connect the wireless LAN (c-15)."
Possible Solutions:
Check the settings for your wireless communication network to be sure that the same network name (SSID) and network key (WEP) are used for the Access Point and the wireless PC or devices. These settings are case sensitive.(a-14)

-If this does not solve your problem, select the possible cause to continue trouble shooting.

Check communication device for Bridged settings as you may need to disable the Bridge or reconfigure.(a-15)

-If this does not solve your problem, select the possible cause to continue trouble shooting.

Press button to restart the system. (a-21)

-If this does not solve your problem, select the possible cause to continue trouble shooting.

I'm going to press the apply button now, but it looks like everything is connected like it should and I'm just not sure what's going on. When you get into connectivity issues like this, I'm at a loss.

Considering Linsys isn't proprietary to the ISP, couldn't we dump the InstaLAN bullshit and just let the wireless on the laptop connect that way? When running the ConfigFree application, a radar screen comes up on the desktop showing the Linksys as being right next to the computer and also shows other networks coming in and out of range, but this thing just won't connect.

Any help, in the simplest of layman's terms, since I'll have to then pass this along to my brother over the phone to try and fix it, would be GREATLY appreciated.

You guys rule. Thanks.

B

If you wire into the linksys, do you get inet connectivity? If so, dump the ISP's lan software and just use windows wireless connection. You can give me a call if you need to...

First, you need to connect to the router. The default IP address is http://192.168.0.1 with no username and admin as the password. Once you get logged into the router, check and see if the router is configured to broadcast the SSID. Also check and make sure that the wireless mode is set to mixed. You'll find these settings under wireless and the basic wireless settings.

If that doesn't help Driggs, hit me up on AIM as freelancefool. I'll be on for a while and have the wrt54g working with wireless right here.

Brian, if you're still over there by the time I'm off of work (1430) I'll give you a call.

i say dump the ISP software regardless of what you do, it is only there to make things harder. windows does an ok job. bet it starts working the moment you remove that ISP crap.

I agree, remove that crap, windows manages the wifi no problem.

Make sure the linksys does not have MAC address filtering, and check for WEP settings and make sure they match the wifi configuration on the laptop. For testing, disable MAC address filtering and WEP, but once you get it working, turn them back on.

If everything is a go and it still doesn't connect, post up any error codes, as there's a winsock fix that addresses connectivity issues with wifi connections.

Originally posted by cougar694u
I agree, remove that crap, windows manages the wifi no problem.

How old is the router? linksys had trouble with some of their older products (even though they are cisco)the windows manager should pick up the network fine, if not go get an Asus router! If you don't feel like spending a ton of cash D-Link actually makes some pretty good N routers for under $100

Originally posted by talon749

Originally posted by cougar694u
I agree, remove that crap, windows manages the wifi no problem.

How old is the router?

Originally posted by DR1665
Router/Gateway:
Linksys WRT54G

There should be no problems using that model router.

Thanks for the all the advice, fellas. I'm going to try to get back over there sometime later this week (if not next weekend) to dump that InstaLAN crap and see about XP setting up the network.

Appreciate all the help.

Freelancefool had the info that will setup the router. I have the same router and it wont work until you configure it with the address. Also as he stated, you must be wired to setup the router.

Terry

Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon
Freelancefool had the info that will setup the router. I have the same router and it wont work until you configure it with the address. Also as he stated, you must be wired to setup the router. Terry

^^^ This is all correct! After the initial setup you can just hit the "secure easy setup" button on the router and then press it on the laptop and they will connect automaticly.. Most XP laptops with wireless card have the lynksys software installed already... Or at least most that I have personaly seen..